Coprological diagnosis of gastrointestinal parasites in captive primates in Peninsular Malaysia.

The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in captive primate populations in three Zoos in Peninsular Malaysia. A total of 52 faecal samples were collected from the enclosures of five species of local primates comprising Orang Utans (Pongo pygmaeus), White-Handed Gibbons (Hylobates lar), Siamangs (Symphalangus syndactylus), Stump-tail Macaques (Macaca arctoides) and Slow Loris (Nycticebus coucang). The samples were subjected to Formal-Ether sedimentation, Ziehl-Neelsen and Giemsa staining for microscopy detection of helminth ova and protozoan cysts. PCR with species-specific primers were used to detect Cryptosporidium. A total of 46 (88%) faecal samples were positive for various parasites by microscopy. The most common parasite harboured by the captive primates was Entamoeba (65.4%), followed by Strongyles (40.4%), Strongyloides (15.4%) and Cryptosporidium (9.6%). Balantidium and Trichuris showed relatively low infection rates (1.9%). PCR assay had a higher sensitivity (15.4%) for the detection of Cryptosporidium compared to conventional microscopy and Ziehl-Neelsen staining (9.6%). The high rate of infection with Entamoeba and Cryptosporidium, and the presence of Balantidium in the captive primates are of concern as they pose a potential zoonotic risk to animal handlers, keepers and the public.

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